Crosswalk repairs hold strongRepairs to the downtown crosswalks were unveiled a little more than four months ago and seem to have done the trick. Public Works Director Michael Oakes said he was pleased with the crosswalk repairs and with the bulb-outs. "Everything went according to plan and they seem to be performing very well, as anticipated," he said. "Everything looks great, with a lot of flowers blooming and with the banners. People keep telling us how much they like ...

Council comes to agreement on parkPOTTSVILLE — The Pottsville City Council — after a lengthy and, at times, heated discussion — approved the construction of a metal building with four toilets at Rankin Park during a called meeting Friday evening. The project has an estimated price tag of $15,000. Mayor Jerry Williams said he first approached the council with the proposal during a budget workshop about a year ago. During a workshop, no actions can be made and no minutes are tak...

Mayor clarifies Master Plan reportRussellville Mayor Bill Eaton and Main Street Russellville Executive Director Betsy McGuire clarified Thursday that they have no intentions of putting downtown Russellville on a “road diet” or make Main Street into a “bottleneck” in the foreseeable future. And they both agreed the progress that has been made the last few years from the Downtown Master Plan should and will go forward — with variations and differing opinions based on what reside...

Municipal candidates emergeThirteen people filed to run as Independents for municipal offices during the first week of filing, including eight incumbents. So far, the sole contested race is for Russellville mayor. Earlier this year, Mayor Bill Eaton confirmed he will not seek re-election. Aldermen Randy Horton and Martin Irwin along with former mayor and Alderman Tyrone Williamson filed on July 25, the first day of the filing period. Aldermen Mark Tripp, Freddie Harris ...

Aquatic center questions need answersWhat are the restrictions of a public swimming pool built near a flood plain? How high does the pool have to be above the flood plain? How high does an aquatic center structure have to be above the flood plain? Russellville’s Pool Committee decided Thursday they needed answers to those questions, then could proceed quickly to a decision on where the city’s aquatic center will be built. “Our target date is to have this done by the end of August...

Centennial donates property to schoolDARDANELLE — The Dardanelle Board of Education approved adding seven years to its contract with Centennial Bank, extending it to 2024, in return for the bank donating property at 102 S. Front St. to the district during a called meeting Friday afternoon. The contract wasn't scheduled to expire for three years. "We were elated about the donation," Superintendent John Thompson said after the meeting, adding the property's value is assessed at mor...

Litter issues continue to plague city parksAmong the many attractions of the Russellville cityscape are its many parks. Residents of all ages frequent local parks for recreation and relaxation. But a shadow now looms over the city’s 18 public parks. Littered trash can be found rolling across them in the evening breeze. Russellville Recreation and Parks Director Mack Hollis said littering is a progressively worsening issue in city parks. “I can’t say for sure how much worse littering is...

Museum of Military History facing lawsuitThe Museum of Military History proudly displays relics of past American wars as a memorial for Arkansas River Valley veterans. But now the museum is fighting a war within its own walls. Lee Fields filed the lawsuit against museum board members arguing he is still director of the museum, but current board President Lloyd Walker, Vice President Nick Kersen and Secretary/Treasurer Cindy Walker agree Fields' role as director was terminated after h...

Court date set for 10-month-old's motherDANVILLE — Brooke Floyd is scheduled to appear at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the Yell County Circuit Court on charges of first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, a felony, and hindering apprehension or prosecution, a misdemeanor in connection with her husband and son found dead Tuesday in the mountains after they were reported missing for four days. Brooke, 21, was released on a $50,000 bond after appearing in felony bond hearings in Yell Cou...

Pottsville creates full-time jobPOTTSVILLE — The Pottsville City Council approved creating a full-time position at the city's sewer plant during its regular meeting Monday night. Jason Howard, Pottsville Public Works director, said the sewer plant needed a full-time employee. Williams recommended the council approve creating the position, in part to comply with Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) standards. "We have a problem at the sewer plant we need to add...

Sunset Cinema moved to Boys and Girls ClubThe Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce's Sunset Cinema has been moved from Lake Dardanelle State Park to the Boys and Girls Club at 600 E. 16th St. Everyone is still invited to come and enjoy an evening full of family fun and entertainment with the showing of "Despicable Me 2." Activities will begin at 7 p.m. tonight with the movie set to begin at 8:30. For more information, call the Chamber at (479) 968-2530.

RSD nearing completion of goalsThe Russellville Board of Education discussed its five-year goals for the Russellville School District (RSD) during a lengthy called meeting Monday. Though no action was taken to approve the goals, President Breanne Davis said she anticipates the board to come to a conclusion about the goals in the near future. "We strongly believe in continuing to get better, advancing our strengths and addressing our weaknesses," Davis said. "In order to do ...

Museum of Military History ready for Bargains GaloreItems are piling up at the Museum of Military History for the upcoming Bargains Galore along U.S. Highway 64. Thanks to donations, the museum will be able to participate in the 15th-annual yard sale. Board secretary and treasurer Cindy Walker said the museum has accumulated plenty of items for the event, but the members need help packing and moving the items to their sale area, which is the parking lot by Mobley Law Firm. "We are needing all t...

Pottsville officers get raisesPOTTSVILLE — The Pottsville City Council approved a 50-cent-per-hour increase for all Pottsville police officers during its regular meeting Monday night. Mayor Jerry Williams said he and Police Chief Blake Herren discussed the need for an increase after losing a few officers to surrounding agencies. "This is not the first time we've lost valuable employees due to a better pay situation," Williams told the council. "The [police] chief and I tho...

Sunset Cinema to conclude ThursdayThe Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present family-friendly movies at Lake Dardanelle State Park in front of the Visitor’s Center. Sunset Cinema is an outdoor movie theater which operates during the summer months of June and July. The cost is $1 per person, children under 12 are free. The public is invited to attend the last showing of the season Thursday. The feature presentation is "Despicable Me 2" and will begin at appr...

Repairs needed to Oakland Heights drainage systemThe Russellville Board of Education approved a motion to repair the drainage system at Oakland Heights Elementary during a called meeting Monday. Nathan Barber, business manager and assistant to the superintendent, said the drainage system failed after a recent flash flood. "The storm drains are 100 percent failing at this time," Barber said. "The storm drain system has collapsed in the courtyard area where the garden is." Member Morgan Barret...

Father, son found deadDANVILLE — Yell County Sheriff Bill Gilkey confirmed that Brian Alan Floyd, 33, and his 10-month-old son, Harper Alexander Floyd, were found dead in the Ouachita Mountains on Tuesday afternoon. Searchers discovered Harper's body around 1:30 p.m. approximately 700 feet from where searchers recovered the family's truck Monday afternoon. Brian's body was found about an hour later. Both bodies have been sent to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory ...

Crematorium hearing packs City HallThe Arkansas State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors tabled discussion on issuing a permit to Humphrey Funeral Services for the construction of a cemetery and crematorium adjacent to Center Valley Elementary School during a packed public hearing Tuesday at Russellville City Hall. The eight-member board voted unanimously to postpone a decision until its Aug. 14 meeting in Little Rock. Jim Bob Humphrey, president and general manager of Hu...

Humphrey offers 'unprecedented' compromiseJim Bob Humphrey, president of Humphrey Funeral Services, credited his daughter, Elizabeth, for coming up with a seemingly simple solution to the most common argument — concerns about mercury emissions — he has heard regarding his proposal to build a cemetery and crematorium next to Center Valley Elementary School. "Pull the teeth," Humphrey recalled her saying. "What's the big deal? It's teeth; it's fillings." Humphrey said the "ground-breaki...

Truck found in missing father, son caseDANVILLE — The Yell County Sheriff's Department (YCSD) found the truck it is believed the family was traveling in when Brian Alan Floyd and 10-month-old Harper Alexander Floyd went missing Friday afternoon. "[The truck] was found in a very remote area off Forest Service Road 18," Yell County Sheriff Bill Gilkey said during a news conference Monday afternoon. "The area is very treacherous, very mountainous. The truck is in a position — because ...